As soon as I crossed the turkish border, I felt nimble and full of positive expectations about the beautiful land I was going to trample. I was immediately welcomed by  some delicious çay and a very tasty börek, cooked in many different ways. I slept at gas stations along the way, resting in their gardens and receiving protection in exchange for  some small talks.  I did not need to ask for hospitality, everyone approached me smiling and moving his arms. In Turkey you just need to sit down in a park and wait; people arrive and sit close to you, offering sunflower seeds and chat. You talk by gestures and smiles, using the whole body expressions, and without saying a word.. you have a new friend. That’s really impressive.

As you may noticed (( https://mattiamiraglio.it/media-stampa-press/flashback-notte-luleburgaz/) I  also slept in a mosque courtyard ignoring that Ramadan (Ramazan in Turkish) had already started. I was afraid of being kicked out in the middle of the night, but  I received an extraordinary welcome instead. That mosque was attended by many Patrol Company employees.. I took a deep breath and I reached them carrying my best smile. I was very tired, but fortunately there was a boy who spoke English, and helped me to forward my “request for asylum” to the pastor. They smiled at me, accepted my request and invited me for dinner in a great resort, built for the company employees. They treated me very well and everyone found hard to believe I arrived so far afoot!

Later the pastor asked me about my beliefs.. I said I was born Catholic, but I’m still looking for God. He looked at me as if he didn’t care about my religious beliefs and told me  that I can return whenever I want, without asking. His mosque is my mosque. He apologized in advance for the noise made by night prayers and said goodbye.

I can’t deny: it was one of the most intense moments of my life! In a few hours I learned the true meaning of “humanity”.. two different cultures joining together, without conflicts or petty fights.. only love for a neighbour, someone like you.. made by flesh, bones and a soul, nothing more and nothing less.

Forgive my long absence, but I really needed to feel like an ordinary person for a few days. I needed an icecream with the lovely Giulia, who kindly came to visit me. I needed to walk unobtrusively, without my usual handcart. I needed to hug my father, to take a break, to relax the muscles. I needed to do a little later in the evening, and sleep a little more in the morning. I needed to take a shower just because I feel like it, to breath normality just for one second.. to breath Her just for one second.

Life is beautiful only when we decide to see its  beauty.. it’s inspiring only when we have an open mind to be amazed by it.. and when you suffer so damn much for something, it means you’re still alive.. and that’s the most important thing.

Always smile!

Thanks to Tiziana Boin for translation! 🙂